As my term as CLEAR’s president draws to a close, I look back with pride on our organization’s accomplishments over the past year. At a time when the role and value of professional and occupational regulation is being closely scrutinized, it has been my pleasure to lead the organization in its pursuit of regulatory excellence, for the benefit of the public we ultimately serve. Central to our mission are the CLEAR Learning educational programs that equip us to better protect the public with efficiency and effectiveness. Over the course of the past year, CLEAR has trained over 1,000 regulatory stakeholders, representing numerous jurisdictions, professions and occupations. Recognizing that the opportunity to travel to CLEAR’s educational events can sometimes be limited, we have brought more educational programming to you, whether in the form of National Certified Investigator and Inspector Training Programs offered in 12 locations, Board Member Training programs offered in five cities or one-day symposia delivered in three North American cities. As we plan for 2015–16, we will continue to move in this direction, and welcome additional invitations from host jurisdictions and organizations.
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September 17, 2015
President's Message by Marc Seale
August 26, 2015
President's Message by Marc Seale
I have recently returned from Amsterdam where CLEAR hosted its Fourth International Congress on Professional and Occupational Regulation. It was an honor to welcome 130 professional and occupational regulators from across Europe, North America and Australasia to Amsterdam where we saw first-hand the variety of innovative approaches employed by international colleagues, in our shared mission to protect the public. It is particularly gratifying to serve as CLEAR's president at this time of international expansion and outreach, and to see the organization recognized for its unique role in promoting regulatory excellence across borders, professions and occupations. PowerPoint presentations from the event are available to CLEAR members and we are beginning preparations for a Fifth Congress in Melbourne, Australia in December 2017.
March 20, 2015
President's Message by Marc Seale
CLEAR’s recent telephone conversation with the Executive Office of the President of the United States concerning a budget provision, and a Supreme Court ruling involving a State regulatory board and the Federal Trade Commission, illustrate again the scrutiny and attention that is currently being focused upon professional and occupational regulation. It is within the context of these interesting times that seventy CLEAR members met in Charleston, South Carolina to plan the organization’s thirty-fifth annual conference program, and to continue the good work of the many committees involved in the resourcing and equipping of members of the regulatory community. As a result of the tremendous work of all the members of the Program Committee, we have an excellent program with numerous innovations planned for the annual educational conference in Boston. The brochures have been mailed and online registration is now open. I look forward to welcoming you to Boston, where we will meet from September 17-19, 2015.
September 04, 2014
President's Message by Darrel S. Crimmins
As my term as CLEAR's President draws to a close, I look back with pride on our organization's accomplishments over the past year. At a time when our roles as regulators are under considerable scrutiny, it has been my pleasure to lead the organization in its pursuit of regulatory excellence, to the benefit of the public we ultimately serve.
Central to our mission are the CLEAR Learning educational programs that equip us to better protect the public with efficiency and effectiveness. Over the course of the past year, CLEAR has trained in excess of 1,000 regulatory stakeholders, representing numerous jurisdictions, professions and occupations. Recognizing that approval to travel to CLEAR's educational events is not always forthcoming, we have brought more educational programming to you, whether in the form of National Certified Investigator and Inspector Training (NCIT) Programs offered in 14 locations or one-day seminars in three North-American cities. As we plan for 2014-15, we will continue to move in this direction, and we would welcome additional invitations from host jurisdictions and organizations.
July 28, 2014
President's Message by Darrel S. Crimmins
The 2014 Annual Educational Conference is just around the corner. In addition to preparing for the conference, there has been a great deal of activity in the past months. The excellent work of the committees and working groups along with your valued input in the stakeholder surveys prompted a two-day Board of Directors' meeting in June. During that time, we created a frame work for the 2016-18 Strategic Plan, revised CLEAR's Policies and Procedures, and updated our current By-Laws, which are before you for review and comment. Of particular significance was discussion of the CLEAR Learning Programs review and a game plan for implementation. The proposed improvements to our already robust educational programs will make them the premiere training ground not only for our current attendees, but also for the next generation of regulators.
April 14, 2014
President's Message by Darrel S. Crimmins
As spring is upon us, the harsh winter fades into our memories. Many CLEAR members braved the frigid temperatures and travel delays caused by dramatic winter storms to come together for another successful mid-year meeting. Thanks to the tremendous work of all the members of the Program Committee, we have an excellent program with numerous innovations planned for the annual educational conference in New Orleans. The brochures have been mailed and online registration is open. We look forward to seeing everyone September 11 to 13, 2014.
December 30, 2013
President's Message by Darrel S. Crimmins
CLEAR’s upcoming midyear business meeting in San Antonio, Texas will mark the beginning of another significant year for our organization. In early January, more than seventy committee members from across North America and Europe will meet to plan CLEAR’s 2014 conference, to be held this fall in New Orleans, and continue the organization’s vital work of promoting regulatory excellence. We thank the many individuals and organizations who submitted such informative session proposals for our next conference.
September 23, 2013
President's Message by Michelle Z. Pedersen
CLEAR's 33rd Annual Educational Conference is now only days away, and I look forward to welcoming approximately 450 colleagues to the conference in St. Louis. A further 125 attendees will be participating in the various training programs that will be offered, and 26 exhibitors will highlight resources and services to assist us in our vital mission of public protection. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Program Committee chair Deanna Williams, and vice-chairs Ernie Atkins and Brian Pritchard, as well as the many other committee members who have dedicated themselves to providing us with outstanding learning and networking opportunities across the conference program.
August 26, 2013
President's Message by Michelle Z. Pedersen
Written on August 9, 2013 – International Art Appreciation Day
What’s Your “Term of Art?”
I have always been fascinated by peoples' use of the word “art.” It is currently Friday evening, August 9th, and I am confident I am not the only person not out partying, crazily celebrating International Art Appreciation Day, which is today! With the utmost of respect for this day of recognition, I am equally confident that I am not the only person who was surprised to know this day exists. It does; and sets the perfect tone for the theme of this message - ART.
Without context, the simple word “art” has vastly varying meanings, definitions and uses to different people and in a variety of settings. The definitional origins of the word have included statements such as “skills as a result of learning or practice,” “a business craft,” “skill in scholarship and learning,” and “human workmanship as opposed to nature.” My personal favorite, because it represents a certain irony in my mind, is “a diverse range of human activities and the products of those activities.” For purposes of this message, I also draw attention to the 1600’s, during which there are the first recorded roots and references to the creative arts, especially by painting, sculpture and drawings. This is also the era responsible for the first known use of the expression “Term of Art,” that in 1656 was defined as “a word or phrase that has special meaning in a particular context” or a term that has a specialized meaning in a particular field or profession. I pause here to think of how many terms of art abound in the field of regulation. . .
December 12, 2012
President's Message by Michelle Z. Pedersen
It is such a privilege to serve as CLEAR’s President at a time of such growth and vitality. As I begin this message, a quick introductory question comes to mind: How can we already be narrowing in on the midyear meeting in Savannah, Georgia? I am amazed at how swiftly time has passed since the conference in September, and am equally grateful for the opportunity to soon and again collaborate face-to-face with so many individuals with the continuing and contagious positive energy that was generated and shared in San Francisco, still reeling throughout the organization!
In the spirit of the acronym riddled world within which we all live and thrive, and to showcase the great work that has been completed, is on-going and lies ahead, please enjoy the following, that represents a mere sample of the vast and remarkable efforts of the organization (harmonized with the theme of making CLEAR, clearer). . .
